Animal monitoring system

Abstract

Disclosed is an animal monitoring system that collects data regarding an animal and/or an animal's environment and enables access to the collected animal monitoring data. The system comprises a data-logger unit attached to an animal, that logs data regarding the animal or its environment; a data-relay for relaying the data to a data-storage means that collects the data; and a website that provides access to the collected data.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An animal-monitoring system, comprising:
 a data-logger unit attached to an animal, wherein said data-logger unit logs data regarding external bodily movement of the animal, and wherein said logged data is stored in non-volatile memory; 
 a data-relay means in wireless communication with said data-logger unit, wherein said data-logger unit accumulates logged data when out of range with said data-relay means, and intermittently transmits logged data when in range of said data-relay means; 
 a data-storage means in communication with said data-relay means, wherein data transmitted from said data-logger unit is relayed by said data-relay means to said data-storage means and wherein the data is used to assess the health of the animal based on external bodily movements of the animal; and 
 a website providing access to human users so they can obtain information relating to the data from said data logger stored on said data-storage means. 
 
     
     
       2. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-logger unit also logs data regarding the animal's environment and such data is used in combination with the data logged regarding the animal's external bodily movements to assess the health of the animal. 
     
     
       3. The animal-monitoring system of any one of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein the data logged regarding the external bodily movements relates to at least one of scratching, tilt and vibration of the animal. 
     
     
       4. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the data regarding the animal's environment relates to at least one of the location, temperature, light level and humidity of such environment. 
     
     
       5. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-logger unit is capable of bi-directional communication with the data-relay means. 
     
     
       6. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-relay means communicates with the data-storage means using wireless data transmission. 
     
     
       7. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-relay means communicates with the data-storage means via a mobile phone network. 
     
     
       8. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-relay means communicates with the data-storage means via the internet. 
     
     
       9. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-storage means is a computer database server. 
     
     
       10. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-storage means operates as the web-server hosting the website providing access to the data from said data logger stored on said data-storage means. 
     
     
       11. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data logger unit logs data from one or more sensors selected from sensors capable of detecting movement, vibration, tilt, location, sound, temperature, light level, humidity, heart rate, breathing rate, and odour. 
     
     
       12. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein a collar attaches the data logger unit to the animal. 
     
     
       13. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-relay means is a data-relay device suitable for connection to a domestic power-socket. 
     
     
       14. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein data from the data logger stored on the data-storage means is analysed by a computer processor to determine the behaviour and/or activities of the animal. 
     
     
       15. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data from the data logger stored on the data-storage means is displayed on the website at least partially in pictorial form. 
     
     
       16. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the pictorial form is animated. 
     
     
       17. The animal-monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the data-relay means is in wireless communication with a plurality of data-logger units. 
     
     
       18. The use of an animal monitoring system of  claim 1  for the diagnosing of a medical condition of a monitored animal. 
     
     
       19. An animal-monitoring system, comprising:
 a data-logger unit attached to an animal, wherein said data-logger unit logs data regarding:
 (a) external bodily movement of the animal; 
 (b) the environment surrounding the animal; and 
 (c) bodily functions of the animal; 
 
 wherein said logged data is stored in non-volatile memory; 
 a data-relay means in wireless communication with said data-logger unit, wherein said data-logger unit accumulates logged data when out of range with said data-relay means, and intermittently transmits logged data when in range of said data-relay means; 
 a data-storage means in communication with said data-relay means, wherein data transmitted from said data-logger unit is relayed by said data-relay means to said data-storage means and wherein the data is used to assess the health of the animal based on items (a), (b) and (c); 
 and a website providing access to human users so they can obtain information relating to the data from said data logger stored on said data-storage means. 
 
     
     
       20. A kit of parts adapted for use in the animal monitoring system of  claim 1 , the kit of parts having the data-logger unit, the data-relay means and the data-storage means. 
     
     
       21. An animal monitoring system according to  claim 19 , wherein the external bodily movement of the animal comprises one or more of head tilt and scratching. 
     
     
       22. An animal monitoring system according to  claim 19 , wherein the data logged by the data-logger unit comprises one or more of temperature, light level and humidity. 
     
     
       23. An animal monitoring system according to  claim 19 , wherein the bodily functions comprise one or more of the animal's sound, heart rate and breathing rate. 
     
     
       24. The kit of parts of  claim 20 , wherein the data-relay means is capable of communication with a data-storage means via a mobile phone network.